Gibbons to talk budget on TV

Jun. 26, 2008

Photo by Lisa J. Tolda / RGJ

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Three channels

Gov. Jim Gibbons' 10-minute address is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will air live on the three major networks in the Reno area, channels 2, 4 and 8. Democratic Speaker Barbara Buckley will air a 10-minute rebuttal immediately following.

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Gov. Jim Gibbons is scheduled to make a statewide televised address today to explain Nevada's historic budget deficit and possibly some potential solutions.

The 10-minute address is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will air live on the three major network channels in the Reno area.

State Democratic Speaker Barbara Buckley will make a 10-minute rebuttal immediately following.

Many are hoping Gibbons reveals the details of a

21-point plan he said his office has crafted for dealing with the shortfall, now estimated to be $1.16 billion. So far, he's declined to discuss specifics.

"We're going to reiterate all those areas where we have reached agreement on in the past," he told reporters Wednesday.

Gibbons also is expected to issue his formal call for the special session today. In the declaration, he's expected to specify what the Legislature can consider in the session to begin Friday.

Gibbons has cut $914 million from the budget. Another $250 million in savings must be found.

"There's a bunch of different ways get to the $250 million figure," his spokesman Ben Kieckhefer said. "We're going to talk about many of them, acknowledging that in the end, it's up to the Legislature to decide how they want to go about it."

Republican and Democratic leaders, who said they haven't seen Gibbons' 21-point plan, spent a third day on Wednesday in private discussions trying to come up with a joint solution.